Process of making shingles for covering roofs.



RICHARD JELIER, 0F IKENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

' PROCESS OF MAKING SHINGLES FOR COVERING BODIES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD James, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Process of Making Shingles for Covering Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to form a shingle of wood that shall retain the advantage of wooden shingles as to maintaining their correct shape and form, and have also the durability of the asphalt shingle with the fire-proof feature of a granular coating of crushed rock or similar non-inflammable material. I attain these objects and other advantages that will hereinafter appear in a shingle constructed according to the process set forth in this specification.

In constructing shingles according to my present invention I cut strips of veneer of of a soft and fibrous wood such as bass wood or a wood whose physical characteristics approach closely to those of basswood. These strips are preferably cut of tapering thickness. As these strips are cut around the log of wood they will naturally roll into .loosely wound cylinders, and these rolls of veneer are placed in a kettle containing liquid asphalt or asphalt and mineral oil and subjected to heat for a. period of several hours. During this period the thin veneer becomes thoroughly impregnated with the asphalt, the moisture and air being driven out by the heat, and each strip of veneer is then run through a pair of rolls over the kettle which removes any excess of asphalt which may adhere to the veneer and flattens down the upstanding fibers of the wood. A coating of fine crushed rock or crushed burnt clay is then spread of even thickness over the upper surface of the strip, and another pair of rolls, under considerable tension toward each other, press the granular coating into the soft surface of the mixture of wood fiber and asphalt. The strip then slides along a flat surface where it is cooled. The strips are subsequently cut into shingles of various standard widths such as are found desirable, and packed in bundles. Shingles of this construction have the imperishable coloring of the rock or burnt clay surface Specification of Letters Patent.

and also its fire-proofing feature. Owing to their tapering thickness they give a better demarcation of the different rows of shingles as they appear on a roof, and therefore give a more diversified appearance, relieving the roof of the flat monotony 'ch'aracteristic of the thin even thickness of asphalt shingles having a wool felt body. Most important of all, they have the strength of the wood body to .prevent the curling under the influence of the weather which sometimes occurs with the wood felt body asphalt shingles. As the grains of rock or burnt clay are pressed right into the wood, they are more securely held than. is the case with the wool felt body shingles. The wood being impregnated with the asphalt loses the possibility of rotting, and the shingle becomes as durable as the asphalt itself. The term asphalt, as used in this specification, means a mixture of bitumen and mineral oil such asis usually employed inthe manufacture of asphalt roofingor shingles at the present time, and this particular mixture or material forms no part of my invention.

While I have heretofore specified wood veneer as the body of the shingle, my invention also contemplates the ,use of rolls of wood pulp which can be rolled into tapering thickness and subsequently treated in the v Patented Dec.19,1916.

Application filed February 16, 1916. Serial No. 78,556.

same 1113111161 31S veneer to form WOOd.

rial in said asphalt coated veneer while it is hot by again rolling the same under pressure. In testimony of which I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses RICHARD JELIER.- Witnesses:

CHAnms A. TARBELL, MARTHA M. TABBELL. 

